Device for turning and folding tubular fabrics



Nov. 2 1926.

W. B. LONG ET AL DEVICE FOR TURNING AND FOLDING TUBULAR FABRICS FiledMarch 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2 1926.

. W. B. LONG ET AL DEVICE FOR TURNING AND FOLDING TUBULAR FABRICS FiledMarph 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 folding operation.

1 1,604,997 star QEEICE.

WILLIAM B. LONG AND cnAnLns nl Etienne; on cnrcAeo, rLLrnorsAssIenons TUNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, or orrrcneo, rLLrnois, A CORPORATION 01?ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR TURNING AND FOLDING TUBULAR FABRICS.

Application filed. March 20, 1923. Serial No. 626,404.

This invention relates broadly to devices for turning and foldingtubular fabrics,

and in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated anddescribed, to a de vice for turning or reversing the upper end of astocking so as to form the hem prior to stitching it.

lileretofore it has been proposed to turn or reverse a tubular fabric,particularly for forming the hem of a stocking, by means of a simpledevice comprising two upstanding wire arms spaced apart to permit thestocking to be placed between the arms and the open end to be slippedacross the frames or fingers and turned backwardly over them. A portionof the exterior surface of" these frames are suitably serrated to gripthe fabric slightly so that when the extreme edge of the open end isfolded back upon itself, to form the hem; the fabric is prevented fromslipping on the frames. lVhile this appliance is very simple, noprovision is made to permit the facile release of the fabric from theserrated frames after the This easy release is especially necessaryWhere the frames are made of somewhat resilient wire stock.

The present invention has for one of its aims the provision of a simpledevice for folding the tubular fabric as hereinbefore set forth and forinsuring the quick and ready release of the fabric from the supportingfingers or frames.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device which inaddition to permitting the quick withdrawal of the fab ric from theturning fingers or frames, also permits the easy positioning of the.fabric upon the fingers.

Yet another feature of the invention re 'sides in the simple andeconomical mode in which Figure 1 is a side view of the appliance withthe stocking in position thereon;

' Fig. 2 is a detailed end view of the device; Fig. 3 1s a section onthe line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line F 1g. 1, and

' counterpart of the member 6.

4-4 of i Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the ing fingers. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a support orbracket 1 of substantial T-shape, having suitable perforations 2 at itsupper portion so that the bracket can be fastened to a desired support.The lower portion of the bracket'is formed with an attached plate?)preferably bolted thereto as at 4, which plate carries an eX- tended arm5. This arm is provided with a hollow bearing 6 in which is mounted thelower end 7 of the substantially semicircular upstanding supportingfinger or frame 8. To this end, the lower end is. perforated as at 9 toreceive the fastening screw 10. f r

The other supporting finger or frame 11 is moun'tedin spaced relationfrom the finger 8. These fingers are relatively movsupportable. To thisend, finger 11 is'preferably carried on the end of a shiftable bar 12which slides through a guideway 13 in the lower part of the bracket 1.The outer end of the bar 12- is detachably provided with a bearingmember 14 which is'preferably a g This member 14 in like manner holdsfinger 11 in upstanding position. Suitable means is provided forshifting these fingers relatively. In the form illustrated,the extremeend of bar 12 is'pivoted to adepending lever 15 as at 16, which lever isin turn pivoted as at 17 to one of the arms of the T-braclr-et 1. Thelower end of lever 15 is suitably formed seat 18 so that it can beoperated by the knee or body of the operator while his hands are engagedin positioning or withdrawing the stocking from the fingers 8 and 11. Acoil spring 19 is connected to the bracket 1 and to lever 15 insuch amanner. as to normally maintain the fingers spaced apart the desireddistance for properly folding and turning the stocking. An intermediateportion of bracket 1 is provided with a bored lug 20 in which ispositioned a rod 21 as by thumb nut 22. This rod 21 is slotted orrecessed as indicated in dotted lines at 23 in Fig. l'of the drawings.This recess receives the lever 15. The length of the recess or slot 23is slightly greater than the width of the lever, so that the lever canbe moved back and forth in said recess or slot. The spring moves thelever to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, un-

til said lever strikes the end of the slot or recess 23, which end ofthe recess serves as a stop. or as means for limiting the movement ofthe lever. l/Vhen the lever is moved in the opposite direction by theoperator for moving the fingers toward each other, the lever will strikethe outer end of the recess or slot 28, and this end of the lever servesas a stop for limiting the movement of the lever stated. H

The upper exterior fabric engaging faces of thefingc 's 8 and 11 aresuitably serrated to provide fabric gripping means. A very novel meansis herein provided, consisting in a series of screw threads 24 suitablycut in the desired manner. These threads which are of the usual type arearranged with their apices pointing downwardly sons to most effectivelygrip the fabric and prevent it sliding upwardly on the fingers duringthe turning and folding operation. The threads constitute a mostimportant feature of our device, since they can be provided econom callyPreferably adjustable stops 23 are provided for each finger to limit thelength of the fabric end before it is turned backwardly upon itself inthe folding operation. 7 w H In the operation of the device, the lowerend of lever 18 is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 to bring thefingers slightly closer together and then the tubularfabric or stocking27 shown in dotted lines is positioned between the fingers; the open end28 being slipped over the smooth top 25, 26 and pulleddown onthe fingersuntil it reaches the stops 23 as shown in Fig. 1. At this time the lever18 is released so, that spring 19 forces the fingers apart, whereuponthe serrations 24f grip effectively into the fabric. The lower end 28 isthen drawn backwardly or upwardly into the dotted line position 29 toform the fold or hem. During this reversing operation, the threads 24hold the fabric from slipping on the fingers 8 and 11. After theabovefol'd or hem is formed, the operator grasps the fabric at the foldsand operates the lever '18 with his knee to shift the fingers togetherslightly whereby to permit the easy release of the fabric. I I

It is obvious that minor changes in the detailsof construction and thearrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims. a 7

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent. is

1'. A fabric turning and folding device comprising a support, aplurality of fabric engaging fingers rnounted on said 'suport. andconstructed and arranged to grip said fabric and to permit the fabric tobe turned arranged thereon in spaced relatio'n'to permit the open end ofa tubular fabric to be slipped thereover for turning and folding, meanson said fingers for gripping the fabric to prevent itsinadvertentslippingtherealong, and means for shiftingsaid fingersrelatively to. release said gripping. 4

L A fabric turning and folding device comprising a support, anupstandingfinger stationarily. mounted thereon, .a horizontal bar shiftablymounted in said support, a I

second upstanding finger inounted on said bar, means for maintainingsaid bar in a normally set position whereby said. fingers are positioneda predetermined distance apart, and an operating member connected tosaid bar and adaptedfonoperation to shift the finger thereon toward saidstationary finger.

5. A fabric turning and folding 'device comprising a support, aplurality of fingers arranged thereon in spaced relation to permit theopen end of a tubular fabric to be'sli'pped thereover for turning andfolding, said fin- ;gers be'ing suitably threaded fo'r gripping thefabric to prevent its slipping'during the turning operation, and means'for shifting one of said fingers toward the other.

6. A fabric turning and folding device comprisin-ga support, a pluralityof fingers arranged thereon in spaced relation to permit the open end ofa tubular fabric to be slipped thereover for turning and folding, saidfingers being suitably threaded for gripping the fabric to prevent itsslipping during the turning operation, means for shifting one of saidfingers toward the other, and means for adjusting said shifting means.

7. A fabric turning and folding device comprising a support, astationary finger thereon, a shiftable finger thereon, a spring adaptedto normally space said fingers to permit a tubular fabric to be slippedthereover for turning and folding, an operating lever pi votallyconnected to said support and shiftable finger and operable to move said'shiftable. finger inwardly toward said stationary finger to permit therelease of said fabric. a

8. A fabric turning device comprising a support, a fabric engaging andsupporting finger rigidly secured to said support, a bar movable endwisein said support, and a second fabric engaging finger carried by saidbar, said fingers being substantially parallel and provided withserrated faces to resist the sliding movement of the turned portion ofthe garment during the reverse folding of the fabric, and manual meansfor moving said bar to release the grip of the fingers on the fabric.

9. A fabric turning device comprising a support, a fabric engaging andsupporting finger rigidly secured to said support, a bar movableendvvise in said support, a second fabric engaging finger carried bysaid bar, said fingers being substantially parallel and provided withserrated faces to resist the sliding movement of the turned portion ofthe garment during the reverse folding of the fabric, an arm projectingfrom said support, a lever pivoted to said arm and to said bar forshifting the bar endWise in said support, a spring connected to saidlever for moving the lever in one direction, and stop bar having stopsfor limiting the movement of the lever.

10. A fabric turning device comprising a support, a fabric engaging andsupporting linger rigidly secured to said support, a bar movable endwisein said support, a second fabric engaging finger carried by said bar,said fingers being substantially parallel and provided With serratedfaces to resist the sliding movement of the turned portion of thegarment during the reverse folding of the fabric, an arm projecting fromsaid support, a lever pivoted to said arm and to said bar for shiftingthe bar BDdWIlSS in'said support, a spring connected to said lever formoving the lever in one direction, and an adjustable rod carried by thesupport and having means for limiting the movement of the lever throughthe action of the sprin In testimony whereof, We affix our signatures.

WILLIAM B. LONG. CHARLES R. HUGHES.

